Alpine Bike is the name of the thrilling new trail from Scuol to Aigle. National Mountain-Bike Route No. 1 is a big challenge, even for athletic and technically skilled riders. In 16 stages and over 666 demanding kilometres, it traverses the mighty Swiss Alps. In the first few hours, riders soon get a taste of the drama to come: the route snakes through the Swiss National Park into the picturesque Val Mora. A gentle, leisurely path – pictured left – soon gives way to a demanding single-track trail threading through the timeless landscape. The Septimer pass is another highlight, but many more follow. Surselva, the Susten pass, Kleine and Grosse Scheidegg at the foot of the celebrated North Face of the Eiger, the Saanenland, the Col des Mosses: the trail passes through the finest mountain scenery in Switzerland. But even if you're in great shape, you can always take a break, by hopping on a train or bus to the end of the day's stage – all can be reached by public transport.
A mountain-bike trail to beat them all.
Swiss National Park
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Aare: Canoeing
Ajoie: By horse and wagon
Arosa: Golf course
Braunwald: Stories
Chasseral: A land of ease and luxury
Chur: Bernina Express
Ebenalp: Way up in the air
Emmental
Emosson: Alpine transport
Engadin: Swiss National Park
Entlebuch: High moors
Flumserberg: A trip back in time
Fribourg: St. James
Glacier Express
Göscheneralp valley: Wild water worlds
Gotthard: Tremola Pass
Gruyères: Simply mouth-watering
Gstaad
Interlaken: Four-Passes-Tour
Jungfraujoch
Jura: Freiberge
Kandersteg: Lake Oeschinen
Lake Constance: Skateline
Lake Lucerne
Lake Toma: Rhine
Lauterbrunnen valley: Water
Lavaux: Terraced vineyards
Lenk: Simmen Valley
Les Brenets: River
Les Diablerets: Skittles in the snow
Leventina: Cycling
Maienfeld: Heidi's village
Monte Tamaro-Monte Lema
Montreux: Château de Chillon
Muggio valley: Open-air museum.
Muotatal: Hölloch
Murten: Three Lakes Region by Cycling
Nendaz: Along old channels
Neuenburg: Creux du Van
Neuhausen: Rhine Falls
Oberhasli: Trift glacier
Pays-d'Enhaut: What a cheese
Pilatus: Golden Round Trip
Rhine Route: Cycling
Riederalp: Aletsch glacier
Rigi
Ritom Lake: A real treat
Romainmôtier: Parc jurassien vaudois
Saas-Fee: Allalinhorn
Schilthorn
Schwarzsee: Holidays on the alp
Schweiz: Trans Swiss Trail
Schynige Platte: Eagle-eye
Soglio: Paradise
The Golden Pass Panoramic Express
Titlis
Val d'Anniviers: Hotel Bella Tola
Verzasca valley: Water
Via Spluga: Along old trading paths
Zermatt: Matterhorn
Zug
Zurich-Sihlwald
Zürich: Lake Zurich
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Switzerland's first national mountain-bike route leads from the Engadine valley to the Rhone – 666 devilishly challenging kilometres across the Alps. It's the world's longest – and one of the toughest.
Where to go
- Zernez: National Park House with exhibition
- Scuol: Mineral spa
- Guarda: Typical Engadine village
- Val Müstair: St. Johann Monastery
Where to stay
- Nationalpark: Chamanna Cluozza
- Scuol: Wellness-Hotel Belvédère
- Müstair: Hotel Münsterhof
- Typical Swiss Hotels
Where to eat
- Sent: Berggasthaus Zuort
- Zuoz: Restaurant Dorta
- Guarda: Hotel-Restaurant Meisser
Mountain-biking in Switzerland
In addition to the dramatic Alpine Bike mountain trail, two other routes traverse the country. The Panorama Bike route, for example, leads from Rorschach on Lake Constance to Montreux on Lake Geneva, with gorgeous panoramic views of the Alps along the way. There are also 12 regional routes; in every case, the start and finish of each day stage is served by public transport.For full information of the SwitzerlandMobility route network, visit www.MySwitzerland.com/mountainbike
